Belinda paused at the top of the stairs and wiggled her bottom. “If you hurry you might get a taste of this.”

She headed for her bedroom, savoring the sound of his boots pounding the floor as he ran behind her. Perhaps she’d been wrong all along. Perhaps he did want her. She hurried into the bedroom and crossed to the side of the bed near the wall, putting the bed between them when he came into the room.

Once he’d closed the door he gave her a look that she thought might make her clothes melt from her body.

“Naked.” The one word made her shiver.

“It will take a while,” she said, hoping she sounded as if she really didn’t care if she followed his order or not. “I shall summon Merry.”

“You shall do no such thing,” he said. “I shall help you.”

He bolted toward her, and Belinda screamed in laughter and climbed onto the bed in an effort to get away from him. She’d waited so long for this that she wanted it to last, wanted to savor this, relish every second.

Jonathan must have anticipated her move, because he was on the bed in seconds, wrapping his arms around her waist and tossing her onto the mattress. They wrestled for a moment and then he was on top of her. He pinned her arms on either side of her head and said, “I thought you wanted to be fucked, Belinda. You’re making it hard for me, aren’t you?”

“Maybe I was right the other evening,” she said. “Maybe you’re unable to fuck. Does your cock rise to the occasion, or will I be lying here, unsatisfied, for ages?”

He let go of her arms, but she kept them in place, then she giggled. Doing it the hard way was rather entertaining… until he grabbed her bodice and ripped it in two.

“You’ve ruined my dress!” She tried to push him away but this time he gathered her wrists in one of his large hands and held them above her head. With his other hand he pulled her shift, ripping it easily. When her corset was bare he pulled it down, and then he captured her freed nipple in his mouth.

His lips tightened, and the suction caused a little bit of pain, which she found she enjoyed. She struggled against his hold, half-heartedly. His control was perfect. When he released her hands and pulled down her corset on the other side she felt the tightness of the garment’s hold on her, but she didn’t care.

“Jonathan,” she whispered.

“Do you want to know how much I’ve wanted you?” He nibbled on her nipples, first one side and then the other. “I’ve gone to bed every night dreaming of being inside you, of bending you over and pumping into you so hard your entire body quakes under me. Your imaginary screams of pleasure kept me awake, until I had to take matters into my own hands.”

He switched back to sucking and Belinda rocked under him, wishing she hadn’t run, wishing she’d taken off her clothes so he could take her as she wanted.

“Fuck me,” she whispered.

“With pleasure.” He was off her in seconds, and then pulling up her skirts and petticoats in a haphazard fashion to gain access to what they both wanted. She wiggled to help him, pulling on her pantalets as he tugged on her skirts. She heard the ripping of material, and the pulling of threads, but she didn’t care. If the dress ended up in the rubbish heap that was just fine with her.

When her skirts were finally above her hips and her quim was bare he stroked it, and she arched into his touch.

“Hurry, take me, take me.”

When his hands went to his trousers she tried to help but he pushed her hands away. Instead of helping she stared at his crotch, and when his prick popped free she licked her lips and spread her thighs at the same time.

He plunged into her and she gasped, arching her shoulders and wrapping her legs around his hips. He pumped as she bucked her hips into each movement. When he finally yelled out that he was climaxing she held him tight. When she let go of him he collapsed on top of her, rolling off in a few moments.

And then, to her surprise, he propped himself up on his elbows and started to play with her clitoris. She was so excited, so roused from being fucked that she exploded within seconds, stars appearing before her eyes as the pleasure spread through her body.

“My God, that was perfect,” she said.

“I’m sorry we waited so long,” he said. “That was my fault.”

“Forget the fault,” she said. “We have the rest of our lives to enjoy being together. And, in that light…” she stopped and tried to catch her breath. “Tell me about this club of yours.”

“Curious, aren’t you?” he said with a laugh. “You like anything to do with sex?”

“I enjoy sex, very much,” she said. “Too bad you didn’t realize that earlier. Remember when you asked me about sucking cock? I’m very good at it.”

She turned toward him and kissed his jaw. “As a matter of fact, I love it. Tasting your salty, male skin. Running my tongue along the blood veins, feeling them throb under my touch. I even like to take a slight taste of your semen, and rub it into my breasts while you watch.”

“You are wicked,” he said. “You will fit right in with the Rakes Club.”

“Tell me more about them,” she said. “Or don’t you yet trust me.”

“If I didn’t trust you I wouldn’t have said anything at all,” he said. He put one arm back and cradled his head. “It’s been around for a while. Let’s just say I’m not one of the original members.”

“That’s why you and your friends are so close,” she said. “You have sex together.”

He chuckled. “Saying we have sex together is a little misleading. We have sex with ladies, while the others either watch, or have sex with their ladies.”

“Lots of spankings going on at that time?” she asked.

“It’s a possibility.” The way he was stretched out made him look sexy and wicked. She looked down at his crotch.

“You spank women during your Club events?”

“Many women enjoy the activity,” he said. “You might even learn to do so.”

“Highly doubtful,” Belinda said.

“Not all spankings are like what you’ve been through so far.” He ran his free hand down her thigh. “You just haven’t been in the right mood for it. The spankings you’ve received were punishment spankings. They’re not supposed to be enjoyable.”

She took a few pins from her hair.

“So let me get this straight, you and your group of friends, and a few others, gather to have sex with women who are either the members wives, or society widows.”

“You have it in a nutshell, Lady Brat.”

“Don’t call me that.” Belinda’s eyes narrowed.

“No? Why not? I rather like it. I think it may become my nickname for you.”

“You’re incorrigible.” She turned her back to him. He moved so that his body was pressed into hers, separated only by the clothing they both still wore. Belinda slowly swept her hair over her shoulder, and from the sounds he made, right into his face. He pushed it away, and then kissed her exposed skin.

“Jonathan.” Her voice was breathy.

He trailed his lips up to her neck.

“Yes, Lady Brat?”

“Are you always going to be incorrigible?”

“Count on it,” he said.

She moaned when he kissed her, his tongue tracing lines over her shoulders and making her shiver. She melted against him, never wanting to leave the warmth and safety of his arms.

“If you’re not going to make love to me again, you need to stop that.”

His breath trailed over her skin and neck as he laughed. Belinda shivered.

“It’s a good thing I’m not really impotent.” He lifted his eyebrows at her and cocked his head.

She blushed furiously and hung her head.

“I let that fact slip this afternoon, in the teashop.”

“And?”

“The ladies surely told their husbands. Do you think Lady Essex would take tea with me tomorrow?” Belinda snuggled back against him. “Today’s was a set up, but I would like for it to be something she would want to do. Does that make sense to you?”

“It does, and I’m sure any number of my friends’ wives would be happy to take tea with you.”

“I haven’t exactly been polite to them over the years.”

Shivers ran up her spine when Jonathan caressed her shoulders. She turned and put her arms around his neck.

“You will find that my friends, like me, are accepting of people, and forgiving.”

“I’m so happy your reputation will be restored. I’m afraid, though, I might need a sample of you, to prove that I’m telling the truth.”

She jumped when he slapped her behind.

“I’m afraid I’ll need a little more time to recover.” The clock bonged seven times, and his eyes widened. He sat up and she did the same.

“What?”

“We’re supposed to be at Buxton’s house in half an hour,” he said.

“Oh my. Merry!” He jumped out of bed and walked toward the basin. He turned his back to the doorway as the maid came in.

“I have to be ready to leave as soon as possible,” she said. “Take out the blue dress, the one that is Lord Barton’s favorite.”

“As you wish, milady,” Merry said.

“I’ll meet you downstairs as soon as possible,” he said. “Sooner than possible, if possible.”

“That makes no sense,” she yelled after him as he went out the door. But she couldn’t help but smile. Tonight was going to go well, and things were going to be perfect after it was all over.

“You’re late.” Buxton pulled his pocket watch from his pocket, and Belinda felt as if she were being admonished for being a bad child.

“Something came up,” Jonathan said.

“I can imagine, but I would think this was a little more important,” Buxton said. “As you can see the place is crowded. Friends, and people I’ve never seen before in my life, are here to see what happens next. Get in there and mingle. We’ve pushed the séance back to nine-thirty.”

“Thank you.” Jonathan took Belinda’s arm and led her into the main part of the house, pushing past people who stood shoulder to shoulder. They whispered about her as she walked by, and familiar words, such as slut and bitch, were used. She found, though, that it didn’t matter too much to her right now. She wondered if it ever would again.

Sometime in the future she would cease to be Lady Strauss, and she would become Lady Barton. The idea thrilled her beyond belief, especially after tonight’s amorous activities. Barton was a far better lover than she’d ever had before, and the only man she had ever loved.

The thought made her giddy, and she put her hand against her mouth to hide the smile. She didn’t want people to think this was funny. If they thought that, they might think this whole thing was a farce.

She tried to remember what they were supposed to talk about during the séance. She supposed Alice had all the right things to say, but how was Belinda supposed to answer her?

“Jonathan,” she whispered in his ear, “I’m not sure… this is a bad idea.”

“Don’t get stage fright on us now,” he said. “Just follow Alice’s lead and if you seem to stammer, or need some help, I’ll be right there.”

“I’m nervous,” she said.

He put his lips against her ear and said, “If you do well on this I’ll let you suck my cock later, upstairs, in one of the bedrooms. There will be a great deal of people here. You are excited by the prospect, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” she answered.

“Then think about that as a reward.” He kissed her ear. “Now, let’s go speak to Alice and tell her we’re ready.”

They pushed their way through the crowd and went to where Alice stood with her husband.

“I’m ready,” Alice said. “Although I think we have more people here than I expected.”

“You just have to put on a show,” Buxton said. “Like you did at the Stanhope’s house party.”

“I’ve told you several times that wasn’t a show,” Alice said, the words hissing out from between her teeth. She turned to Belinda. “Nothing like that had ever happened to me before. I meant to make it look like he was talking through me, but he actually was.”

Belinda was floored. She knew she’d heard Taylor’s voice that day, and he’d been talking with her about what she’d done wrong. She felt like she’d paid for her sins. But now, she knew Victor was still alive, unless Gloria knew something she didn’t. Perhaps Gloria was trying to find her because something had happened to Victor. What if Victor really did appear during the séance?

The thought frightened her, but before she could voice her objections once more, Buxton took a walking stick and rapped it against the floor. To Belinda’s surprise, the room grew quiet, or as quiet as a group of what she estimated to be at least two-hundred people could.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Buxton said. “I am happy that you are all in my home, and I have to tell you that we locked up the silver and any other valuables when we saw how big the crowd was getting.”

The pronouncement brought out nervous giggles and laughter. “In all seriousness, we are here tonight because there is a possibility that someone whom we thought to be dead is alive, and is hurting my friend’s fiancée.”

The crowd grew louder, and Belinda was sure it was at Buxton’s use of the word fiancée. No one had announced in public that she and Jonathan would be married. It would, she was sure, invoke a myriad of emotions amongst the people of London. How would they look at her if they knew Victor was still alive? Would they see her as a victim?

To Jonathan they would, but she didn’t really want to push things to see if it really would happen.

“I still think this is a bad idea,” she said.

“It is too late for that,” Jonathan said.

Near them, Buxton was touting his wife’s ability, telling those who were listening that she was able to reach the dead and have them talk to their loved ones.

“She’s been trying for days now to reach Victor Strauss,” Buxton said. “She’s had no success, because I believe that Strauss is not dead. I talked with a man who works at the city storage for deceased persons, and he admits to taking a bribe to say that Strauss had drowned that day.”

Belinda had not heard that part. She glanced at Jonathan, who looked very uncomfortable, and she could see that he had heard it. Had they not told her so that her look of shock would be genuine?

“We had not expected the amount of people who are here tonight,” Buxton said. “True it was in the newspaper, but it was not meant to be a place for everyone to come and hear what is about to take place. However, my wife does not want me to kick people out, despite the fact I think it is the best thing to do. Spirits don’t like crowds, or so I think.”

There was a great deal of mumbling, and when Buxton rapped his stick on the floor again, the crowd grew quiet once more.

“We will start now,” he said. “There are rules. You must be absolutely silent. Anyone who makes an outburst of any kind will be taken from the room, forcibly if need be.”

“Now, be silent, and allow this to take place as it should.” Belinda shivered at the sound of Buxton’s voice. It was obvious he was used to giving orders, and to having them obeyed. “Now, Alice, darling, how would you like things to proceed?”

“I want to be near the windows,” Alice said. “I want them to be open, and I want Belinda near me. If a spirit is likely to appear, it will more than likely do so if someone whom they loved in life is close to them.”

“If he loved her,” a voice called out. “If she was as bitchy to him as she has been to others…” The woman did not finish her sentence. There were a few rumblings of laughter, and then Buxton slammed his stick against the floor.

“Those who are around the woman who just spoke, please point her out.” People moved away from a woman standing near the middle of the room. Belinda didn’t recognize her, and she was sure that the people around her were turning her in, so to speak, because they wanted to stay for the performance.

“Remove her,” Buxton called out. Two footmen pushed their way to where the woman stood. One indicated she should walk in front of them, and she did, but only after glaring at Buxton and saying, “She’s a bitch, and a whore, and everyone knows it.”

“If you are without sin, then go ahead and judge,” someone yelled from the back of the room. Applause came from about half the people, or so Belinda thought. She reminded herself that what these people thought shouldn’t matter to her. What mattered was what she thought, and what Jonathan thought.

He was still behind her, and he’d put his arm around her to keep her pulled close to his chest. His strength became her strength, and it kept her from responding to the woman who had yelled out her feelings.

Alice waited for the noise to die down once again, and then she sat in the chair that Buxton had brought forth for her.

“Isn’t there supposed to be a table, and candles, and eerie music?” someone asked.

Buxton snapped his fingers. This time the footmen escorted a man from the room. He made a bit of a fuss, but he was laughing too, and Belinda wondered how much the man had to drink before the proceedings began.

No one else caused a scene, and Alice sat in her chair and waited. She closed her eyes, and opened them, and then closed them once again. After about fifteen minutes the crowd grew restless, and Alice finally shook her head.

“Nothing,” she said.

“What a surprise,” someone called out. “Obviously this was set up to make your new friend look good.”

“How does it make her look good?” someone else asked. “You’re out of your mind if you think so. If the man’s not dead he can’t come through in a séance. He deserted his wife.”

The room once again filled with talk as people yelled out their thoughts on the matter. Belinda turned to Alice, who was now staring at the floor.

“Are you all right?” she whispered, kneeling in front of her new friend.

“I don’t like this feeling,” Alice said.

“What feeling is that?” Belinda asked.

“Like something is about to happen and I can’t stop it,” she said. “I have a sense of dread unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.”

“Let me find Buxton,” Belinda said. She stood, and realized that pandemonium had broken out. People were screaming at each other, and some of the men, and women, were pushing at each other, and it seemed as if fistfights would break out at any moment.

“Jonathan!” she called out, looking for her lover. She didn’t see him anywhere, so she next called for Buxton. He didn’t answer her, either. She turned back to where Alice still sat in the chair, looking as if she might faint at any moment.

From out of nowhere, Charlotte appeared and grabbed Belinda by the arm. “Let’s get Alice upstairs, now. The men are trying to clear the room. I don’t think any of us expected this sort of a crowd. There are Bobbies around, and I hope they can help.”

Belinda and Charlotte helped Alice up, and as they moved along, Carin joined the group and kept people out from in front of them. When they had Alice upstairs they helped her out of her dress and shoes, and had her lie down on her bed.

“I’m so sorry,” Belinda said. “It was a madhouse out there, and I’m so sorry that you have been affected like you have.”

“Someone is going to die,” Alice said. “I don’t know who, but I know that someone is going to die.”

Her words hit Belinda in the gut. She glanced over at Charlotte, who was staring at Alice with what Belinda thought was probably the same look on her face, one of shock.

“I’ll go for Buxton,” Carin said, and she hurried out of the room.

“I had no idea your senses were that strong, Alice,” Charlotte said.

“Neither did I,” Alice answered. “I’m not going to do this again, ever. It’s frightening.”

Buxton burst into the room and ordered everyone out. When she was downstairs, Belinda found Jonathan standing with Andrew and Clarissa.

“Quite a mess,” she said as Jonathan welcomed her into their circle and put his arm around her.

“Indeed,” he said. “How is Alice?”

“Strained and stunned,” Belinda said. She repeated their friend’s prediction that someone was going to die.

“It was all a show,” Andrew said.

“I don’t think this is part of the show,” Belinda said. “Alice is very concerned that she saw something that means someone is going to die.” She shivered, and Jonathan held her closer.

Gabby came up and said, “I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do with this, journalistically. I think I need to chat with Fergus to see what we need to do with the morning newspaper.”

She turned her gaze on Belinda. “I’ll need a few quotes from you. Perhaps we could do it at your house? Fergus and I could meet you there in half an hour or so. That will give you time to think about what you want to say.”

“Wonderful,” Belinda said. She’d been on pins and needles when this had started, but she’d also been excited about the idea of sucking Jonathan’s cock after it was all over. The truth was they’d gone through all this and had accomplished nothing.

They were just about to head toward their carriage when Parker Mills stepped in front of them. “I want in on this interview I just heard you discuss. This is a huge story, and the Times won’t be left out.”

“You can talk to Gabby,” Jonathan said. “We’re going home.”

Jonathan loaded her into the carriage and sat opposite her.

“This isn’t the ending I was hoping for,” she said.

“Don’t worry, my love, you can still suck my cock after they’re all gone.” Belinda couldn’t help it. Even though there was the idea that someone might die, she laughed at Jonathan’s words.

“At least I know you’ll always find the bright side of things,” she said.

“Always, my darling,” he said. “I waited way too long to take you to my bed. That means that, whether good or bad things happen, I’m going to take you as often as possible.”

They were words she loved to hear. She just prayed that whatever Alice had foreseen wasn’t either one of them. But she didn’t want it to be her friends, or her sister. If her ex-husband was the intended victim, she had a feeling she really wouldn’t care.

She said as much to Jonathan.

“Does that make me a bad person?”

“It makes you a normal person,” he said. “But let’s wait and see what happens before we start feeling bad about who lives, and who dies.”